Will Sasso

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Will Sasso
Birth name Will Sasso
Born May 24, 1975
Ladner, British Columbia, Canada
Official site Official site
Notable roles Cast member in MADtv, Season 3-7

Will Sasso (born May 24, 1975) is a Canadian comic actor. He is most notable for his membership in the recurring cast of comedians on sketch comedy series MADtv, spending five seasons on the show. He credits his determination to become an actor and his respect for comedy to an "unhealthy addiction to...television."

Contents

[edit] Biography and Education

William Sasso was born in Ladner, British Columbia, Canada, to an Italian Canadian family. He graduated from Delta Secondary, Delta B.C. Canada in 1993.

At the age of fifteen he landed his first agent and quickly began booking roles in television and film. Before moving from Vancouver to Los Angeles, Sasso starred for five seasons as quirky teen `Derek Wakaluk' on the award-winning Canadian dramatic series Madison. Official mini-biographies claim that this experience ..."[allowed] him to hone his acting and improvisational skills... [and provided] him with enough money to buy a television of his own."

In 1996, he landed his first memorable role as Pete the orderly in Doctor Who: The TV Movie, starring Paul McGann, Eric Roberts and Daphne Ashbrook. This movie was produced by FOX which also produced MADtv.

He is currently rumored to be staying in Kingman, Arizona.

[edit] MADtv Years

By the end of its second season (1996-1997), MADtv experienced its first big cast turn over. Three of the show's repertory performers (Bryan Callen, Orlando Jones and Artie Lange) left the cast. As a result, in 1997, casting executives at FOX had to cast replacements for the show. Sasso (along with Aries Spears) was selected to join the MADtv third season cast as a repertory performer. When he joined the cast, Sasso was just 22 years, 4 months old, making him the fourth-youngest new cast member in the series' history (only Taran Killam, Simon Helberg and Kathryn Fiore were younger when they joined).

Sasso impressed the audiences with his brand of insane and quirky characters, such as Rocket Revenger Tiny Malone (played by Big Roy Rasmussen), Eracist member Hugh, pop singer Michael McCleod, accident prone handiman Paul Timberman, Talkin' American host Rui Peranio, Mexican pro wrestler Señor Bag of Crap, and Will.

But Sasso also impressed with quite a large number of celebrity impersonations. He was called to do off-kilter impersonations of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bill Clinton, Drew Carey, Fred Durst, George W. Bush, James Gandolfini, James Lipton, Jesse Ventura, Kenny Rogers, Lance Bass, Louie Anderson, Randy Newman, Richard Simmons, Robert De Niro, Steven Seagal, William Frawley and William Shatner.

Sasso is an avid wrestling fan; his impression of Stone Cold Steve Austin was so good that the WWF hired him to be part of a February 2002 episode of WWF SmackDown!, appearing alongside Chris Jericho and the real-life Stone Cold Steve Austin). He also wrestled against Bret Hart on an episode of WCW Nitro, predictably losing.

In 2002, Sasso decided to leave the late-night staple, eager to explore the next stage of his career.

[edit] Characters

  • Big John
  • Big Roy Rasmussen/Lt. Tiny Malone (Rocket Revengers)
  • Dixon
  • Gunter (Hoppy Potty)
  • John Henry Michelle Carter/Chase (Pretty White Kids with Problems)
  • Hugh (The Eracists)
  • Michael McCloud (Behind the Music)
  • Mr. Henderson (The Brightlings)
  • Paul Shondrag
  • Paul Timberman (Timberman's Workshop)
  • Paulie Furniture (Furniture Forever)
  • Pollo Loco (Buenos Dias, San Diego)
  • Rui Peranio (Talkin' American)
  • Señor Bag of Crap (Mexican Wrestling Federation)
  • Sheriff (The Son of Dolemite)
  • Tammany
  • Will (Will's Little Sister)
  • Honey Dipper Dan

[edit] Impressions

[edit] Post-MADtv Years

Since leaving MADtv, Sasso's television appearances have included the recurring role as "Carl Monari" on the ABC sitcom Less Than Perfect. Sasso also plays the role of Fortunio Balducci in the forthcoming Richard Kelly film Southland Tales.

Sasso hosted the 2006 Canadian Comedy Awards in London, Ontario as well as the festival's "Sketch & Improv Showcases". Additionally, Sasso was a host at the 2005-2006 NHL award ceremony.

[edit] Television appearances

  • Less Than Perfect (2003 - 2006) as Carl Monari
  • The Western Alienation Comedy Hour (2003) as Host - Himself
  • Double Dare (stage assistant 2002-2003)
  • MADtv (1997 - 2002) as Various Characters
  • Dad's Week Off (1997) as Ivan "Boom Boom" Krutov
  • Annie O (1996) as Awesome Heckler
  • Susie Q (1996) as Policeman
  • Doctor Who (1996) as Pete
  • Heck's Way Home (1996) as Mover#1
  • Madison (1994-1997) Derek Wakaluk

[edit] Filmography

[edit] External links

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